FORMER Sheffield United manager Dave Bassett has called for the city's two clubs to merge if they are to ever return to the Premiership.

Bassett, who spent seven years in charge at Bramall Lane, believes the only way Sheffield can boast a Premiership team is for Wednesday and United to merge - although he admits the idea is unpopular with fans.

"For me, the only way forward for Sheffield is to have one team and one ground," he told BBC Sport Online.

"It's going to be very hard for them to get into the Premier League otherwise. Sheffield is a footballing city. There's a great passion for the game here and the city should really have representation in the Premiership.

"I don't think supporters will ever go for the idea. They have such a strong allegiance to one or other of the teams."

With United languishing in 18th in Division One - three places above Wednesday - neither club look set for a return to the Premiership and Bassett admits many of the clubs' problems are self-inflicted.

Bassett said: "For Wednesday to go down with the debts they had was mismanagement on the grandest scale.

"They bought players who did not work out right for them. They have got themselves in quite a lot of financial trouble.

"And I kept United in the First Division for four years but the board decided to sell Brian Deane and their best players and not replace them."